Sustaible South Bronx and Action team up for post Sandy cleanup

The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy is unfortunately still an issue for many New Yorkers and many New York businesses. Even though we consider ourselves lucky our largest facility on 132^nd St in the Bronx was hit by Sandy. Our transfer station is located right on the East River so the building was flooded by water and debris. We were able to get our transfer station up and running almost immediately but there was still a major clean up needed.

We contacted the Sustainable South Bronx, an organization that began out of a desire to advocate for parks and green development in the South Bronx and to promote environmental justice within the neighborhood, to help us restore the East River coast line at 132^nd St.

“SSBx’s work has evolved over the past decade and now reflects the belief that the environmental challenges facing the South Bronx cannot be separated from the neighborhood’s economic and social concerns. The South Bronx is part of New York’s 16th Congressional District, the poorest urban congressional district in the nation. Forty-seven percent of South Bronx residents live at or below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 27 percent and many individuals work in the informal sector. Only thirty percent of the neighborhood’s adults have a high school diploma.

Today, the mission of SSBx is to address economic and environmental issues in the South Bronx – and throughout New York City – through a combination of green job training, community greening programs, and social enterprise. Over the last ten years, SSBx has broadened its focus by linking environmental restoration to the economic needs of low-income New Yorkers who are seeking a fresh start.”

Six individuals who are alumni of the B.E.S.T Academy (The Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training), a program dedicated to preparing low-income New York City residents for jobs in the growing green collar sector came to our facilities for the cleanup. For a total of seven days they cleaned the shore line removing debris from newspaper to wreckage.

We are not only proud to work with the Sustainable South Bronx but delighted by what a wonderful job they have done. We thank the organization in general and those individuals who came for the clean-up.

Manhattan Chamber of Commerce 2012's Awards Breakfast

My day started out like most New York commuters, waiting in line to go over the George Washington Bridge, sipping my morning coffee in bumper to bumper traffic. As I made my way down the West Side Highway the sun started to come out and the feeling of spring dawned upon me. The cold and bitter winter is almost over! I couldn’t help but think of how alive New York becomes in the spring. The energy of the New Yorker is revitalized; ready to create from the inspiration conjured up during the winter.  Despite being in traffic, it was a great day to be in New York.

Walking down 14^th street, I was delighted to find the Con Edison building where the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Award Breakfast was being held very easily. As I rode in the elevator up to the ceremony, I listened to the conversations around me. A young woman wearing imprinted lace tights and rocking this amazing shabby coat was talking to another well dressed man, both so intimidatingly fashionable that I started to doubt my outfit of the day. To their right was another engaged couple discussing another Manhattan Chamber of Commerce event that they had met at previously. Later, I found out that the fashionable couple was Katia Beauchamp co-founder of BirchBox and her husband. The other couple was a presenter and Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s New York of the Year Danny Meyer. You can imagine my excitement during the ceremony as I pieced together who I rode the elevator with.

As I walked into the room filled with people networking, I search for my table observing the beautiful décor and pastries. After finding my table, I sat down next to one of the friendliest people I meet that morning Marcus and his co-worker Andrew. We chatted as I waiting for Action’s CEO Ron Bergamini to arrive. (Ron and I are both from New Jersey and commute to either Newark or the Bronx everyday so I think rush hour in Manhattan was something neither of us are quite used to.)

The award ceremony was wonderful. It was informative as well as entertaining. Some of the winners included Jane Rosenthal, a famous Hollywood producer from New York who co-founded Tribeca Film Festival with Robert De Niro after September 11^th to get people back downtown to restore the New York spirit that we all love.  And before I stray from the subject of traffic, Sam Schwartz of Sam Schwartz Engineering was presented with the Mid- Sized Business of the Year Award for his company’s effort in transportation planning and engineering. And remember Marcus who was so friendly? He won the award for Restaurant of the Year- Red Rooster!

Then came Action’s big moment of the morning, Ron Beragmini was presented with the Green Business of the Year Award. Ron accepted the award and explained why a garbage company was receiving a Green award. Action’s innovative project of building an Optical Sorter that will use optic lens to identify different grades of paper by their composition will make recycling more efficient for New York. The goal is landfill less and recycle more. I am so proud to be a part of Action, not only for the recognition Ron and the company received today but rather because Action is trying to make a change taking one step at a time. Changing our ways in the consumerist society we grew up in and live in is hard! Action’s practical method of getting New York to recycle makes it easy for the customers. I am so happy that Ron and Action were recognized.

 

The final award New Yorker of the Year went to Danny Meyer he created Shake Shack! One of my personal favorites since my freshman year of college. I remember having to travel all the way from downtown to the Upper West Side to get one of their delicious burgers. Now they have international locations and a new location about to open in CitiFeild (one of our customers!).

 

Every event that I have been to for the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce has always gone above my expectations and today was no different. Not only am I inspired by the great leaders that were present but honored to have been able to be there today.

 

-Jenna DiBella

Marketing Analyst

Action Environmental Group